ALWAYS CHASING

BY

Pokemaster06

His room right now looked like nothing it used to, seven years back.

Seven years back, his room was filled with Pokemon merchandise. His closet was filled with toy plushies, story books, Pokémon-themed t-shirts. His shelves holding Zubat sharpeners, Charjabug Cases, Sudowoodo Pencils in a Munchlax holder and the shelf itself was shaped like a Pikachu tail. The walls had various hideously pasted poster-pictures of Pokemon that he hadn't even heard about back then. The study table used to be littered with numerousPokemon figurines in what seemed to be a pretend battle. Even his window curtains had Pokemon pictures on them. It was always Pokemon this and Pokémon that.

And now, seven years since then, his room had changed a lot. His closet did not have storybooks and toy plushies, but with actual clothes that he had worn during his journey. The walls had been stripped off their light green colour and were now painted with bright dark green and had various photo frames of different shapes and sizes with the pictures he clicked during his journey, pinned up against them. Among them was also a drawing of him and his ever faithful Pikachu. The Pikachu tail-shaped shelf that once had been on the wall was removed in favour of a simple wooden shelf where rested all his achievements rested. His certificates, gym badges, mementos, trophies, medals, Z-Ring, Z-Crystals and his Gigantamax Band, they all were a part of him. His study table was now covered with small quilts and blankets to serve as his Pikachu's bed. The little yellow mouse hated being in his Pokeball and preferred being out of it, with his trainer.

And in these seven years, Ash himself had changed a lot. From the reckless, selfish kid who didn't respect people's preferences, he had become an upbeat, selfless lad, always agreeing with others' ideas and perspectives.

He was on his bed with Pikachu on his chest, and he was absent-mindedly stroking his fur. Deep in thought. His last battle, that he'd had against Master Leon replayed in his head again and again. That moment when he won the entire series. That moment when the commentator called him Master Ash instead of simply Ash. The moment when his Lycanroc came running towards him and began licking his face and the crowd roared for him. It was all too overwhelming.

Master Leon, the person he had looked up to presented him the trophy. All the people he had ever looked up to- Lance, Cynthia, Alder, Diantha, Tobias, Victor, Professor Kukui- they all were cheering him and many saluted him as he walked by the corridors. He was drowned in questions by the paparazzi, and people pushing through the crowd to see the new Master, but all he wanted was to hug his friends and show them the trophy and throw a large party, celebrating his victory and say, "I wouldn't be here without you!"

The wooden shelf caught his eyes. It always did. The things on it were parts of his past. Ash Ketchum wouldn't be who he was now without those and of course, his friends who kept rooting for him all the way. He picked up the Badge Cases and put them on his bed. Every badge had its own story to tell, even the Frontier symbols. More so, the Brave Symbol. It was the last and also the most difficult one needed, to conquer the Battle Frontier. Then the Kanto badges? He'd barely won a single one through a righteous battle.

"Ours he got out of pity..."

"Yeah I guess that did happen…" Brock and Misty had taunted him when he visited Kanto from Alola.

He chuckled at the memory. He would always be in debt, no matter how many times he defeated them in a battle, or how great a trainer he became.

"Pikapi?" the little mouse asked as he curiously looked at him.

"Did I wake you buddy?" Ash asked as he gently rubbed Pikachu's chin

"Pi… Chu pika chu pikachu?" ("Why were you laughing?")

"Hmmm? Oh, I was just wondering what would have happened if I had woken up early that day. I would have got the squirtle Gary has now, instead of you, and I wouldn't be chased by a flock of Spearows and neither would I jump into the river, nor would I be fished out of it by Misty. It would have been a whole different story."

Pikachu tilted his head in confusion. Why was Pikapi suddenly talking about these things? And why all of a sudden, he was acting so strange?

"Hey Pikachu? What do you think would have happened if you decided that you would continue living with Kangaskhan?" he continued. Pikachu's past was something he had gathered from a lot of different sources. Some from Pikachu himself, some from Professor Oak, and the rest from his own exploration. "Then you wouldn't have evolved at that time and the professor wouldn't find you! And I wouldn't be your trainer!"

Now he understood what Ash was trying to say. As realisation hit him, Pikachu gasped and hugged Ash's body, vehemently shaking his head.

"Pika! Pika! Pikachu pi…"

Ash smiled. Pikachu was always the one to get things quickly.

"Don't worry buddy, I'm not leaving you. Not now, not ever." Ash sighed as he got to his main point. "I don't think I want to remain as a Master, Pikachu. All the paperwork and media... they just don't suit me. They drive me crazy. I want to travel the world and be the best, not be a mere figurehead and be a celebrity."

"Kachu pikachu pi?" ("You're giving up?")

"No... I still want to be a Master. The best Pokemon Master ever! The best trainer! Not a series winner and just stay over there." Back when Ash claimed that he would be a winner, he didn't mean that he would be challenging the World Coronation Series and be its crowned winner. Hell, he didn't even know about it back then. He meant that he wanted to be the best Pokemon trainer Be known as the best battler. He loves Pokemon, not fame.

"You should be glad that you got this far! With the amount of training you've done, you shouldn't be able to enter the league itself!" Misty's voice screamed at him. And since then, Ash made sure that he trained enough every day, so nobody had a chance of telling him that he didn't try. But now, he felt that this time, it was only luck.

"I was able to be the winner because I didn't have to battle any league champion throughout the tournament, except Leon. I had Z-Moves with me. It was luck. It's just like what had happened in the Indigo League."

Pikachu frowned. Did Pikapi mean that he wasn't satisfied with their performance in their battles?

"Chu pi chu pika pika kachu, Pikapi?" ("Did we not work hard enough, Pikapi?")

Ash shook his head. "No, that's not what I mean. You guys worked hard, really hard and that's why we won it. But think about it, Pikachu. We've met so many people during our travels. Made so many friends. Learned so many things. But... if we stop here, that would mean that I have nothing more to do, which is not true at all! There's so much to do. There are so many things I'm not good at when it comes to Pokemon! Don't you think so, Pikachu?"

Pikachu thought about it, his little paw rubbing on his chin in a thoughtful manner. He jumped off his lap and began searching through the badge cases. It had to be somewhere, among these badges.

"Pika!" In his mouth, Pikachu had a Ribbon cut in half. He dropped it in front of Ash and pushed it towards him.

"It's the ribbon May and I won in that unofficial battle in Terracotta Town. What's up with that?" Ash tilted his head in confusion. "I should visit May?"

Pikachu shook his head. He scurried over to a wall and pointed at Dawn and May. Then he fired an Electro Ball and slashed it using Iron Tail. Then he looked at Ash expectantly, hoping he would get his point.

"May, Dawn and now you slashed an Electro Ball, which was a combination move… You mean, I should go for Coordinating?" Ash asked, surprised at the unexpected suggestion.

"Pika!" He jumped back into Ash's lap and began waving his little chubby, yellow paws up and expressing his excitement in his own Pika language.

Ash was surprised to say the least. It wasn't the first time someone had credited his skills as a coordinator, rather he was used to it. But getting that same credit from his partner Pokemon wasn't the same. That would mean, he really did have some talent for coordinating.

"Then we'll be the best Coordinating team the world's ever known! Kanto Ribbon Cup, you better watch out!"

Outside Ash's room, Delia leaned against the wall. She had heard everything. Yes, he was leaving again and just like other times, there was no stopping him. He had his dream to follow and his future to build. Proud tears that had escaped her eyes were now beginning to dry on her cheeks. "That's my son, alright. Always chasing…"

A/N: Looks like I am on an Overdrive. Why wouldn't I be? Tomorrow's the last exam, GK and then Diwali Break! Just awesome! 10 days straight holidays! So expect many more one-shots and some long-shots from me!

Till then,

Stay Safe, Stay Happy!